Wrapping machine and method



Sept. 7,1926.

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1,599,154 w. A. WEIGHTMAN ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 15, 1922 13 Sheets-Sheeli l3 l @IIII IIII lllli .x a

Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,599,154 PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. WEIGIITMAN AND CHARLES H. NITSCH, O1 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS TO STOKES 8t SMITH COMPANY, OF SUMMERDALE, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF. PENNSYLVANIA.

WRAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD.

Application filed September 15, 1922. Serial No. 588,354.

This invention relates to machines for enclosing articles, such as filled cartons, in adhesively secured Wrappers, and to methods of applying and securing such wrappers.

The machine is of the general class disclosed in our prior Patent No. 1,426,429, usually known as sealed wrapped packing machines, with extensive modifications and improvements.

A principal object of the invention is to provide means for bringing an article, such as a carton, and an adhesively coated wrapper, into accurately registered engagement with one face of the carton applied to a portion of the adhesive surface of the wrap per, and to secure and retain the carton and the wrapper in properly registered engagement very promptly after their initial contact and until further wrapper folding and securing operations can be performed, this object being attained in the present embodiment by the provision of means for turning up and securing to another surface of the carton a marginal portion of the wrapper which projects beyond the face of the carton as initially applied to the wrapper, very quickly after the initial contact of the carton with the wrapper surface, and for retaining the marginal portion so turned up and secured in engagement with the carton while the assembly consisting of the carton and wrapper is moved to a point where further wrapping operations are performed.

Another object is to provide improvedmeans for supplying the cartons or other articles to be wrapped to the machine with due regard to the manner in which the cartons ars conveniently arranged or supplied prior to the wrapping operation, and also with due regard to the requirements of the wrapping machine itself.

Another object is to provide improved means for conveying the cartons to and past the assembly station to the point where the principal wrapping operations are commenced and for advancing the wrappers in correctly timed or spaced relation to the movement of the cartons, bringing the Wrappers and cartons into initial contact in properly registered positions and conveying the wrappers along with the cartons to the initial wrappin position. v

Another oTiject is to provide improved wrapping mechanism which folds and se-.

cures successive portions of the wrapper to the carton in an advantageous way, with due regard to the manner of securing a marginal portion of the wrapper to a carton surface immediately after initial assembly, referred to above, and for retaining each part of the wrapper applied to the carton for a considerable time until the adhesive sets more or less, or until another adjacent portion of the wrapper is applied.

Anothe object is to provide improved wrapper supplying and feeding means in cooperation with other features of the machine and to provide improved means for quickly and easily reloading the machine with wrappers, that is for replenishing the wrapper stack.

A further object is to provide improved adhesive applying mechanism, and especially to provide a glue trou h which may be easily and quickly move to operative position, 'or run out to an easily accessible position for examination, cleaning of the glue trough and related parts, or replenishing the glue supply.

Another object is to provide means for stopping the carton feed mechanism, or a portion of it, when the cartons are not properly positioned at a certain point in their advance to the machine.

A further object is to provide improved means for omitting the supply of a wrap per in the absence of an article or carton which would be associated with the omitted wrapper in the normal operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide amachine adapted or readily adaptable for handling packages or different sizes and different relative dimensions and also packages of difi'erent weights.

In addition to providing instrumentalities for accomplishing the above and other objects, the invention includes various improvements in construction and arrangement of parts sufiiciently explained hereafter.

As to the method, an important object is to provide suitable process steps for associating and securing the carton and wrapper in initial assembly, and for then per forming the wrapping and securing operations in a desirable order and manner, fully explained hereafter.

The accompanying drawings show a machine in which the invention is embodied in one form and also sufiiciently illustrate the method, and after considering the drawings in connection with the following detail description, persons skilled in the art will understand that man variations may be made within the principles of the invention, both as to the machine and method.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation from the same position as Fig. 1, of the ,foward portion or carton feed end of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the same scale as Fig. 2, of the central portion of the machine showing mainly the blank supporting and feeding means, gluing mechanism, blank platen and adjacent parts.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal settion of the rear portion of the machine on the same scale as Figs. 2 and 3, showing mainly the folding mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a section at 55, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section at 66, Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section at 7-7, Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a top plan of the central and rear portions of the machine.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail in vertical section showing mainly mechanism for advancing the carton and wrapper in assembled relation and for turning up and securing a projecting marginal portion of the wrapper.

Fig. .10 is a section at 1010, Fig. 1.

. Fig. 11 is a section at 1111, Fig. 10, showing blank feed mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a view from the opposite side of the same mechanism.

Figs. 13 to 20, inclusive. show the wrapper and carton in successive stages of manipulation in accordance with the operations of the machine and also illustrate one performance of the method.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged view of the rearward portion of the machine in horizontal section, substantially in the plane 21-21, Fig. 1.

F ig. 22 is a longitudinal vertical section of parts shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a vertical, longitudinal section at the rear end of the machine showing mainly package guiding and supporting devices at the upper end of the vertical folding channel.

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the same.

The objects to be wrapped may vary greatly in character. but usually they are cartons containing various commodities, and one typical carton C is illustrated in the drawings. The shape, proportions and dimensions of the cartons may vary greatly. The one chosen as an example (see Fig. 14:), has broad sides a and 6, narrow sides 0' and d and ends f. The wrappers are cut with due regard to the particular carton. For the described carton a typical wrapper W. in the resent case (Fig. 13), consists of a sheet of paper of suitable quality and thickness and comprises main or body portions a, b, c, d, to cover respectively the sides a, b, 0', d of the carton and a marginal portion or strip e at one end of the blank, projecting from the side of blank section b to be secured on a marginal portion of carton side 0'. The blank is also provided along its sides with flaps to cover the ends f of the carton, and the shape and arrangement of these flaps may vary considerably. In the present instance flaps g extend from the blank section b, flaps 11. extend from section 0, and flaps extend from section d, all these flaps being relatively narrow in the transverse direction of the blank and having their corners cut away to provide angular end edges as at Z. Flaps m extend from the ends of blank section a, and these flaps are in the present instance of a size and shape commensurate with the ends f' of the carton, so that, these flaps being turned down and secured over the other end flaps, the ends of the carton in the complete package are covered by smooth and unbroken blank sections, the full size of the carton ends. The wrappers are usually printed on their outer surfaces with suitable indicia I. Fig. 13.

According to the improved method of wrapping forming part of this invention, and as described, especially with reference to the mode of operation of the machine forming a part of the invention, individual wrappers W are separated from a group or stack and coated with an adhesi e such as glue G, usually applied over the entire inner surface of the blank and then the blank is brought into initial or assembly contact with a carton C, as shown in Fig. 14*, and specifically in the present particular per formance of the method, the carton side I) is brought in contact with the adhesively coated surface of the wrapper section b, with particular attention to the exact location or registration of the carton upon the blank, so that subsequent wrapping operations may be correctly performed. Substantially concurrently with this contact or assembly, or very quickly thereafter, the blank marginal strip e is folded up and pressed upon a marginal portion of the carton side 0. This operation by producing an angle or corner in the blank and an overlap of the margin strip 6 upon a face 0' of the carton at a right angle to the face 6' to which the blank section b is fixed, with adhesive contact of the strip e, very materially assists in securing the carton and wrapper blank in proper relative positions, or registered assembly, or otherwise stated it prevents y r l tive slipping of the blank and 'carton before further wrapping operations can be performed. The assembly consisting of the blank and carton is then further manipulated to coinplete the enclosuleof the carton in the wrapper, and accord ng to the preferred operation of the machine, prior to further w-apping operations the assembly is transferred a certain distance from the point of initial assembly to the point where the principal wrapping operations are commenced and the turning up and securing of the margin strip 0 may be accomplished during an early part of this transfer movement. The principal wrapping operations are performed in the present lnstance in a particular order, although in the broader aspect of the invention, the

order of folding and securing'ditferent parts of the wrapper may vary considerably. According to the present specific performance of the method, the blank section of is folded up and pressed against carton side d and substantially concurrently the flaps f] are turned up and pressed against marginal portions of carton ends f, Fig. 15. Blank section a is then pressed against carton side a and substantially concurrently, or shortly thereafter, flaps k are pressed on the carton ends with a slight overlap upon adjacent end portions of the flaps 9, Fig. 16. Blank section 0 is then folded and pressed upon carton side (1 and over the previously affixed margin strip e, Fig. 18. Flaps h are then turned up and secured with a slight overlap upon adjacent end portions of flaps 1, Fig. 19, and finally the rectangular end flaps mare folded over and pressed upon the ends of the cartons, Fig. 20, entirely covering the previously aflixed margin flaps g, h and k. The package is then completed, and as soon as the adhesive hardens, is in proper condition for packing and forwarding to the consumer.

To adapt the method for machine operations the assembly is desirably moved and positioned in a particular manner, and Figs. 14 to 20, inclusive, show the general method of forwarding and positioning the assembly to suit the method to the operation of the particular embodiment of the machine herein disclosed. For instance, in Fig. 13 the blank has been adhesively conditioned on its inner face and is being advanced in an arcuate path to a point where initial assembly is accomplished, as in Fig. 14, and at or just beyond that point the blank is straightened out and a long portion of it t ails behind the cart-on as the assembly is advanced toward the right. From the position shown in F ig. 15 the assembly is moved downward, while blank section (1 and flaps 5 are folded and secured and the assembly is then moved in an arcuate path, as indicated by the arrow, to the position shown in Fig. 16, and during this movement the blank section a is turned up and secured and in the furtheinarcuate movement away from the position, as Fig. 1.6, as indicated by the arrow, the. flaps In are turned up and secured. The assembly then arrives in the position shown in Fig. 17, with the affixed blank section If llPPOI'lllUHl) and it is then moved to the right as indicated by arrows and during this movement the blank section 0 is folded and secured before or as the assembly arrived at the position of Fig. 1.8. The assembly is then moved downward as indicated by arrows and during this movement the flaps 11. are folded and secured, the assembly arriving at the position of Fig. 19. It is then moved to the right, as indicated by arrows, and during this movement the large end flaps m are folded and secured, producing the completed package, Fig. 20. Certain of the folding and pressing instrumentalities are indicated in these figures in an elementary or diagrammatic way, these devices being explained in the following description of the machine.

The frame of the machine comprises side base members 1 and 2, having forward extensions 3 and uprights 4, 5 and 6, the frame side members and uprights being connected by suitable cross-pieces, the details of which are unimportant, except as mentioned hereafter.

The cartons are brought up to the front or article feed end of the machine, at the left. Figs. 1. and 2, by a supply conveyor consisting of a belt 8, the upper stretch of which runs over a table 9 and is located at a convenient height to receive the filled cartons from filling machines or to permit the cartons to be placed on the belt by hand. The cartons are removed from the supply conveyor by an elevating conveyor consisting of a chain 10, the ascending active stretch of which passes over a curved guideway on a frame member 11. The cartons stand on one of their ends f on the supply conveyor 8-, in line. with one of the narrow sides, such as c foremost, and are moved by the elevating conveyor 10 with the upper ends f foremost until at the point of discharge from the elevating conveyor the cartons lie horizontally on one of their broad sides (23 with one of the narrow sides 0 in advance in the direction of carton movement toward the rear of the machine. The can tons are then moved by an intermediate or transfer conveyor consisting of a chain 11' to a point between the forward ends of the two main horizontal carton feed and assembly transfer conveyors consisting of chains 12, between the active inward, rearwardly moving stretches of which the cartons are carried to and past the assembly station and on to the initial folding position.

The supply conveyor 8 may be of any convenient length and up to a point near the &

machine the row of cartons is centered on the belt by vertical guide plates 13. Adjacent to the machine the packages are diverted laterally by guide strips 14 having curved portions 15 so that the end carton in the row, as best shown in Fig. 5 is offset laterally from the supply belt. Its lower end f is then engaged by one of aseries of equally spaced cleats 16 on elevating conveyor 10, and the carton is carried up through a guide channel consisting of curved strips 17, 18, 19 and 20, the curvature of the channel thus formed, conforming to the curvature of the ascending stretch of the elevating conveyor. As the packages reach the unvard horizontal position they slide over t 1e strips 17 until they are located-on the forward ends of a longitudinal slide- Way, consisting of strips 20, supported by suitable frame uprights and cross members, which terminate at 21, Figs. 3 and 8, at a point nearly above the axis of the blank platen. Shortly after the carton is positioned over the forward ends of strips 20, it is engaged by one of the equally spaced pusher cleats 22 on intermediate conveyor 11 and advanced over the slideway until it comes between the inner stretches of main the carton is engaged near its ends by two of the pusher blades 23, these being located in similarly spaced relation on each of the main conveyor chains 12, and by these pushers the carton is advanced to and beyond the assembly station.

The end of the supply conveyor 8 adjacent to the machine runs over a pulley 24 on a transverse shaft 25, driven at a suitable speed by connections later described. The elevating conveyor chain 10 passes over a drive sprocket on a shaft 26 and the shaft is releasably driven by a dog clutch from a sleeve 27 rotatably mounted on the shaft. The sleeve is continuously driven by a pinion 28 secured on it, engaging an idler gear 29 on a shaft 30, this idler gear being driven in a manner hereafter described. The dog clutch just mentioned comprises a longitudinally slidable dog 31 having its outer end arranged to engage with a notch 32 in a disk 33 secured to shaft 26. The dog is urged to engage the notch by a spring, not shown, and it has a diagonal face 34 arranged to be engaged by an arc-shaped edge ortion 35 of a lever 36 fulcrumed at 37 an normally urged by a counter-weight 38 to operative relation with the dog face 34. The lever has an arm 39 suitably bent and extending downward to a point where it is provided with a horizontal extension 40 having an outwardly curved end 41, this portion of the lever constituting substantially a. cam

acted upon by the foremost advancing carton on conveyor 8. Normally the advanclng carton acts on arm member40 and moves the lever to inactive position against a stop pin 40. The clutch dog 31 then remains in engagement with the notch 32 and conveyor 10 is continuously drivenso long as packages are pro erly presented in front of its ascending c eats 16. If a carton is not properly pushed into position for vertical feeding, however, the lever arm member 40 is not acted on b the carton, and counterweight 38 rocks t e lever and brings its arcshaped edge 35 into active relation with the able idler sprockets or rollers 42 to assist in guiding its curved portion and a lower idler sprocket 43 having its shaft 44 mounted in slots 45 in the frame to take up slack in the chain.

The intermediate or transfer conveyor chain 11 passes over a drive sprocket 46 on a shaft 47 and an idler sprocket 48 on a shaft 49 adjustably located in slots in frame arms 50 to take up chain slack. The driving of shaft 47 is hereafter explained. The for ward portion of each of the main conveyor chains 12 passes about a driving sprocket 51 carried by short vertical shafts 52, driven as hereafter described. The rear bends of these conveyor chains pass about idler sprockets 53 on short vertical shafts 54. Each chain 12 is located below a flat longitudinal frame strip 55, and another similar strip 56 is located below each chain and suitably connected and spaced away from strip 55, the lower strip 56 forming a support for the chain throughout its travel. ends of each strip 55 and its underlying strip 56 are secured to a block 57 slotted to accommodate the corresponding sprocket 51 and bearings for the sprocket shaft 52 are provided in the ends of the clevises.

Each of the carton pusher blades 23 of the main conveyors (as best shown in Figs. 6, 8, 9 and 14), is provided with lugs 58, by which the blade is pivoted on a pin 59 in ears 60, formin parts of a fitting secured to the chain 12. Tlach blade has an arm 61 carrying a roller 62 traveling on the inward edge 63 of the corresponding frame strip 56, this edge forming a track to control the position of the pusher blade. A spring 64 is coiled about each of the pins 59 and is arranged to normally hold the blade against a stop at 64 on the chain fitting. That is, the springs urge the blades forward in the The forward direction of movement of the conveyor chains and against the stops. The rollers 62 travel ing on the track faces 63 positively hold the pusher blades in the stated position during their advance in engagement with the cartons until the carton with its assembled wrapper is delivered above the vertical fold-- ing channel, when the rollers 62 encounter depressions in the track surface and the springs cause the blades to exert yielding pressure on the cartons to properly position them until the blades are withdrawn laterally by movement of the chains around the rear sprockets 53, as more fully explained hereafter.

Located below the line of travel of the carton with its upward periphery in line with the upward surface of the carton slideway 230 is the wrapper blank platen 65, carried by a shaft 66 and provided with blank grippers 67 operated by a rock arm 68 having a cam roller 69 engaging in .a cam track 70 of a stationary cam body 71, this mechanism operating so that the grippers are open to receive the blank when at a point substantially below the shaft 66 and then close to grip the blank and carry it around to a point above the platen where it is associated with a carton, as later more particularly described, and the grippers are then opened to release the blank. Adjacent to the grippers the platen carries blank' stops 67 to locate and aline the advance edge of the blank properly on the platen prior to engagement by the grippers.

Below and somewhat to the rear of the platen a stack S of the wrapper blanks W is supported on a base or plate 72, the blanks when printed having their printed sides upward. The stack is guided by front and rear upright boards or plates Band 74, respectively, and by an upright side board or plate at the left side of the stack, as viewed from the front of the machine, or the side away from the observer in Figs. 1 and 3, and also by a relatively narrow sideboard or plate 76 at the right hand side or the near side as viewed in Fig. 1, this guide piece being omitted in Fig. 3. The various vertical guides for the stack are carried by suitable framing, the details of which may vary greatly, this framing being supported by a frame side-member 5, the main framing of the machine being arranged so that the stack is practically unobstructed from the right hand or near side I of the machine, as clearly shown in Fig. l, and so that the stack may be withdrawn laterally toward the observer in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3, when the top of the stack is below the lower edge of the right hand guide plate 76. Provision is made for raising and lowering the stack, both to permit its proper adjustment at the beginning of sheet feed operations and more especially to permit easy and rapid reloading of the machine, that is to say replenishing the stack of blanks, by mounting the base 72 removably upon a plunger 77 arranged to slide vertically in a sleeve 78 located on a cross frame member 79. The upper end of the plunger 77 fits in a suitable socket 80 in a plate 81 secured to the stack base 72. A stack transferring or reloading carriage 82 is provided with four double beveled wheels 83 mounted on short shafts 84, and these wheels run on two square rails 85 having their inward ends located in frame member 2 and their outer ends secured in a frame extension 86, Fig. 6, these rails being arranged with one edge upward to engage in the grooves of the wheels 83. At the inner side the carriage is provided with an opening as at 87, so that two of the wheels 83 are carried by separated portions or arms 88 of the carriage, and the central portion of the carriage is formed with a socket 89, with which the opening 87 communicates, this socket being formed to receive the tapered socket 80 of base 72. lVhen the plunger is lowered with the carriage in inward position, that is below the operative stack position, Fig.10, the base socket 80 enters the carriage socket 89 and base 72 is then supported on the carriage and when the plunger is lowered further sufliciently to clear the socket 80, the carriage is easily run out on rails 85 to a position shown in Fig. 6, where it is readilyaccessible to receive another stack S of blanks, and the carriage is then run in again, the plunger raised into engagement with the base and the base is elevated, carrying the stack up between the front and rear and side guide plates until the top blank is in proper feed position, as shown in Fig. 3. For quick reloading the bases 72 may be provided in duplicate and when the stack in operative position is nearly exhausted the plunger is quickly lowered until it is free from the base 72 and the base with any remaining blanks may be quickly removed from the plunger. In the meantime the carriage may be in outer position as in Fig. 6, and a fresh stack of blanks S located on it and the carriage is then run in quickly and the plunger raised to bring the new stack in position, with only a very brief delay in the operation of the machine.

The plunger is raised and lowered in the present embodiment of the invention by a pinion 90 located in a slot or clevis formed in a sleeve 91 formed as a part of sleeve 78 and the pinion is mounted on a shaft 92 which is free to slide through the sleeve 91 and through the pinion while the pinion is prevented from axial movement by the sleeve, and the inion is also secured to rotate with the sliaft by means of a key or spline 93. The inion engages a rack 94 cut on plunger 77 and the plunger is prevented from turning in its sleeve 78 by a spline or key 95. Shaft 92 is mounted rotatably and slidably in suitable bearings 96, 97 and 98, and at its outward end carries a hand wheel 99. A gear 100 is revolubly mounted on shaft 92 in a gear casing 101 formed in frame member 2, and this gear is normally connected to the shaft by clutch teeth 102 on its hub engaging the teeth of a clutch member 103, secured on the shaft by a pin 104.' Gear 100 enga es a pinion 107 on a short shaft 108 an this shaft also carries a circular ratchet 109 engaged by a retaining pawl 110 and also by a driving pawl 111 which is carried on a lever 112 fulcrumed about the axis of shaft 108 and oscillated by a rod 113 which is moved down and up in each cycle of the machine to automatically elevate the stack from time to time to compensate for the removal of the blanks therefrom. Whenever the lever 112 is oscillated far enough for its pawl to drive the circular ratchet 109 one tooth space the ratchet is so driven and is retained by the holding pawl 110, and this movement of the ratchet is communicated by pinion 107 and gear 100 through the clutch members 102 and 103 to shaft 92, which is thus turned a small part of a revolution sufiiciently to cause pinion 90 to raise plunger 77 and the stack a short distance and readjust the top of the stack as required for the blank feed. To conveniently move shaft 92 endwise a shifter lever 105 is provided (Figs. 1 and 6) fulcrumed at 105 and having a fork 105, engaging a shifting collar 106 on the shaft. The lever also has a spring pressed plunger 106 engaging a notched sector 106 to retain the shaft and its clutch member 103 in engaged or disengaged position.

To raise or lower the stack for reloading or for any other reason, the lever 105 is moved to shift the shaft 92 endwise and release the clutch member 103 from the clutch teeth 102 and then by rotating the hand wheel the stack base is quickly raised or lowered and the clutch is then connected by moving the lever 105.

In a separate application, Serial No. 566,094, filed June 5, 1922 we have disclosed'stack supporting, guiding and elevating means similar to those disclosed in the present application, and such mechanism is shown in association with suflicient parts of a wrapping machine substantially the same as the present mechanism to enable the cooperation of the sheet feed mechanism with other'parts of the machine to be understood; and said application also shows certain features of gluing mechanism employed in the present invention. Such sheet feed mechanism, with certain modifications and improvements, will now be briefly described, with full explanation of such features as are not fully described and claimed in said sep-. arate application, and the gluing mechanism Wlll also be described with particular explanation of its features not fully described or claimed in said separate application; and as to any features of the sheet feed and glumg mechanism not fully described hereafter, reference should be made to the above identified application.

At the top of the stack S a suitable frame member 115 supports a plate 116 over the inward face of which a slide 117 moves in guides 118. The slide carries a pivoted arm 119 on the end of which is a pusher roll 120. Connected to'arm 119 is a lug 121 which strikes an adjustable stop 122 near the end of the slide feed motion and elevates the pusher roll which is held in elevated position by a latch 123 engaging a lug 124: connected to arm 119. Near the end of the slide return movement the end of a lug 125 connected to latch 123 strikes a stop 126 pivoted at 127 and provided with an arm 128 connected to a link 129 by which the stop 126 is positioned in or out of the path of the end of the lug 125. Normally with the stop in active position, every time the slide retreats the end of lug 125 engages the stop and latch 123 is raised, releasinglug 12 1, and the pusher roll drops on the top blank in the stack, and in the next feed movement of the slide the combined rolling and pushing action of the pusher roll 120 advances, a sheet laterally from the stack and the roll is then raised and retracted, and so on. The forward end of link 129 is connected. to an arm 130 forming part of a bell crank pivoted at 131, the other arm 132 of the bell crank being located below and between the main carton conveyor chains, Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and being provided with a curved contact surface or finger 133 to engage the bottom surfaces of the advancing cartons. This bell crank structure, and especially its curved finger piece 13;, constitutes a feeler or detector to control the feed of wrapper blanks in accordance with the presence or absence of a carton in the proper position between the main carton conveyors. The bell crank structure, and especially its pivot point 131, is located so that whenever a carton is properly located between the conveyor chains the advancing lower edge of the carton strikes and depresses the finger piece 133 and moves link 129 to the left or toward the front end of the machine, and this causes the stop 126 to be positioned in front of the toe of lug 125, as the blank feed slide 117 approaches its rearmost position, and the latch 123 is thereupon retracted and the roll 120 dropped on the stack and a sheet is fed in the next advancing movement of the slide, the location of the stack and the arrangement of sheet advancing instrumentalities between the stack and assembly position being such that this sheet is brought into assembly relation with the particular carton just mentioned. If,chowever, a carton is absent from its proper position between the main conveyors, finger piece 133 is moved upward by a spring 134 located about link 129 and compressed between a fixed bracket 135 and a collar 136 on the link, and link 129 simultaneously moves rearward or to the right in F igs; 2, 3 and 12, and by this movement stop 126 is moved out of the path of the toe of lug 125 as the slide 117 approaches its rearmost position, and accordingly latch 123 is not retracted, and in the next advancemovement of the slide the pusher roll 120 is retained in elevated position and no sheet is fed. In this way is avoided advancing, gluing and presenting at the assembly position a wrapper sheet in the absence of any carton to be applied to it. Such a presentation of wrapper sheets would require careful attendance and the removal of superfluous sheets by hand with the practicallyunavoidable application of glue from the sheet surface to various parts of the mechanism and other obvious attendant delays and annoyances.

The forward portion of the wrapper advanced by the pusher roll passes over a fixed blank-guide plate 137 and under a movable blank-guide and stop-plate 1.38 lorated on a carriage 139, which is reciprocated by a segment gear 140 engaging a rack 141 on the carriage, the segment gear being located on a shaft 142 which is oscillated by an arm 143 having a roller engaging a cam groove in a cam body 144 on a shaft 145. The sheet is at the same time brought between an upper gripper roll 146 on a shaft 147 having a fixed axis of rotation and a lower gripping roll 148 mounted on a shaft 149 carried in bearing blocks 149* mounted for vertical sliding movement on the carriage and secured in position by guides 149". In the downward movement of the carriage the bearing blocks are engaged by adjustable stops 149 carried by arms 149 secured to a fixed art of the stack guides or guide frame. ln the upward movement of the carriagc adjustable stops 139 on the carriage engage the lower ends of the bearing blocks and carry the bearing blocks up with the carriage and so bring the lower feed roll 148 into operative relation to the upper roll 146. In this way suiiicientcarriage travel is provided for with a limited vertical movement of-the lower feed roll sufiicient only to give the necessary clearance between the upper and lower rolls for the insertion of the blank, and at the same time provision is made by the adjustable stops 139' for adjusting the lower roll when in feed position to properly grip the blank. This limited movement of the lower roll is desirable be cause, in the present embodiment of the ma chine the lower roll shaft is driven by a spur pinion engaging a pinion on the upper roll shaft 147, and the teeth of the pinions are long enough to maintain the driving connection during the limited vertical movement of the lower shaft. This driving connectlon is further explained hereafter. Rolls 146 and 148 constitute primary or initial gripping rolls to withdraw the sheet from the stack after its initial separation and advance by the pusher roll 120. The movable guide plate 138 is .provided with sheet stops 150. The upper guide plate 138 is also provided with thin spring blades 150 accommodated in annular recesses formed in the upper feed roll 146, and these spring blades are arranged to press slightly on the upper surfaces of the lower guide plate 137,

,(Figs. 11 and 12), which also serves as a blank clamping plate in connection with the spring blades. Just forward of the primary gripping rolls is a plate or shelf 151 over which the sheet slides to upper and lower secondary gripping or feed rolls 152 and 153 mounted on shafts 154 and 155, respectively, and with the aid of angularlybent guide strips 156 the sheet is directed in contact with the glue roll 157. The forward portion of the sheet is deflected upward and passes over the glued surface of the glue roll to substantially uppermost posit on thereon and the advance edge of the sheet is then brought against the sheet stops 67 on the platen and is gripped by the platen grippers 67, and. the forward portion of the sheet is then carried around on the platen while. the rearward portion of the sheet is still positively gripped and fed by the feed rollers.

lVhen the forward edge of the sheet is advanced by the pusher roll 120 the carriage 139 is in its lowermost position, Fig. 12. with the plates 137 and 138 separated sufiiciently to fully accommodate the blank, and with stops 150 projecting below the rear edge of plate 137 in the path of advance of the blank edge, and the spring blades 150 bear against the upper surface of the guide and clamping plate 137. Feed roll 148 is retracted from roll 146, the space between the rolls being somewhat exaggerated in Fig. 12 for the sake of clearness. and the roll is supported in this retracted position by its bearing blocks 149" resting on the fixed stops 149. The sheet is then pushed forward between the spring blades and guide plate 137, the springs serving to slightly retard the movement of the sheet, and the advance edge of the sheet is finally located against the stops 150 which properly position the sheet edge in a true transverse line parallel to the feed roll axes: and the sheetmovement is continued until a buckle is formed in the sheet at 158'to insure the 

